New Year’s Resolution: Best Case Scenario
As we close out 2009 I want to share some New Year’s resolutions that I think are worth considering. The resolution I’m sharing today is:
Consider the Best Case Scenario
We’re in a period where caution and prudence are in the ascendancy. Where it is easy to visualize the worst case scenario and in fact blow that worst case scenario out of proportion. A bad idea becomes more than just a bad idea in our heads, it becomes a fireable offense, or it costs the company millions of dollars.
Rarely however, do we look in the opposite direction: What’s the best case scenario? What are the great things that could happen if we took a chance, if we said ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’? It’s an interesting excersise, sort of like making a “pro/con” list. Start by throwing out the wild, truly improbable outcomes – it’s unlikely that total disaster or untold riches will be the result of the vast majority of your everyday life situations. And that’s what I’m talking about here. Just the regular, three or four times a day decisions that usually get an automatic “no.”
What’s the worst case scenario to going sledding with the kids? You get a little cold; you have to bundle up, maybe do a little extra shovelling to get the sleds out of the garage; driving’s a little tricky. Ok, fair enough. Best case scenario: you and your family make an awesome memory and have great stories to share over dinner about who had the best run. Maybe you snapped a terrific photo of your kids with their tobogans.
The upside is a lasting memory, the likeliest downside is a mild, temporary inconvenience.
Now, what’s the most likely worst case scenario to starting a Twitter feed for your business? You’ll feel awkward at first; you won’t know exactly what to say; you might say something silly; or maybe you’ll try it for a couple of months and then decide it’s not for you. But if you do try it out maybe some really terrific things will happen. Maybe you’ll find new customers, or help existing ones or make new friends or find new vendors & business partners. Maybe you’ll increase sales.
Again, the probable best case scenario so far outweighs the probable worst case scenario that it’s almost a no brainer, and yet we’ve conditioned ourselves to overstate the downside of so many situations. Well, I’m not going to do that anymore. Before I say no to my kids, or my wife or a co-worker or friend, I’m going to ask my self “what’s the best case scenario?”
[...] to not let the fear of failure stop me from trying. It’s a bit like my post yesterday on Best Case Scenario. In that case I’ve resolved to focus on the potential positive outcome from a situation. With [...]